r m guntert etal



CHINE 1962 R. M. GUNTERT ETAL FEELER UNIT FOR THE CONTROL OF A TRAVELINGMA Filed May 9, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 5 m m m 0 M Wm n u r 5 ifd mfwe.

m o W MQ 2 0 m 1 7 Q B w 1962 R. M. GUNTERT ETAL 3,064,217

FEELER UNIT FOR THE CONTROL OF A TRAVELING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 2 APP v 1962 R. M. GUNTERT ETAL 3,

FEELER UNIT FOR THE CONTROL OF A TRAVELING MACHINE Filed May 9. 1960 3Sheets-Sheet 3 req- United States Patent Office 3,064,211 Patented Nov.13, 1962 3,064,217 FEELER UNIT FOR THE CONTROL OF A TRAVELING MACHINERonald M. Guntert, Wii'our F. Earley, and Robert E.

Noaek, tockton, Calirl, assignors to Guntert & Zimmerman (Joust. Dim,Inc, Stockton, Calif., 21 corporation of California Filed May 9, 1960,Ser. No. 27,534 Claims. (Cl. 33630) This invention relates to a feelerunit for use in the control of a traveling machine, such as a concreteslab laying machine as shown-for example-in United States Patent No.2,864,452.

One object of the present invention is to provide a feeler unit for thepurpose which is an improvement over the unit shown in the aboveidentified patent, in that a more sensitive and accurate feeling actionis obtained, and a greater range of movement of the probe finger ispossible.

A further object of the invention is to mount the unit on a support insuch a manner that a much easier and better swinging action when passingby the grade-wire supports is obtained, together with an improvedarrangement to return the unit as a whole, and which includes the probefinger, to its initial or normal position after being so swung, and tothen rigidly yet yieldably maintain the unit in such normal position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical,reliable, and durable feeler unit for the control of a travelingmachine, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose forwhich it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a feeler unit having a laterally extendingprobe finger usable for vertical control of the machine to which it isattached.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the unit on a reduced scale and partly insection, taken on a line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and showing the unit as clearinga grade-wire holding arm.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a modified form offeeler unit wherein the feeler finger is vertically disposed for lateralcontrol or steering of the machine.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevation of such modified unit on line 77 of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line 8--8 of FIG. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, particularly at presentto FIGS. 1-5, and the characters of reference marked thereon, the feelerunit which is the subject of this invention is supported from a bracket(not shown) on the machine, as shown in said US. Patent No. 2,864,452,by means of a horizontal shank 1 which projects toward the machine in adirection away from the grade reference member such as a wire 2. Rigidwith the outer end of the shanlg and which is the end thereof closest tothe wire 2, is a vertical sleeve 3 which engages a spindle 4intermediate the ends of the latter, and which spindle is non-turnablysecured in the sleeve.

Turnable on the spindle in vertically spaced relation are ears 5 whichnormally project laterally out from the spindle, or toward the gradewire, and are rigid with a housing 6 of rectangular form. This housingencloses the arm 23 as the machine advances,

feeler-controlled mechanism of the unit, as will be later described, andwhich includes a horizontal shaft 7 journaled in the front and rearwalls of the housing and normally disposed parallel to the wire 2.

At one end the shaft 7 projects out from the adjacent wall 8 of thehousing, and a rigid probe finger 9, having a longitudinal slot 10therein, is clamped adjacent one end on said end of the shaft andextends thence laterally out a distance sutficient to allow the probefinger to straddle the grade wire 2.

The finger 9, laterally in from the shaft 7, is provided with alongitudinally extending tapped stud 11 on which a counterbalance weight12 is threaded. The finger 9, including the weight 12, is enclosed in arigid casing 13 which is open to the housing wall 8 and is securedthereto by angle brackets 14. The casing is provided with longitudinalslots 15 matching the probe finger slot 10 but considerably wider, asshown in FIG. 1. Also, the height of the casing 13 is considerablygreater than that of the probe finger 9, so as to allow of materialswinging movement of the finger in a vertical plane without interferenceas the level of the machine relative to the grade wire 2 may vary.

The housing 6 and parts attached thereto are yieldably maintained in orreturned to a position such that shaft 7 is parallel to the grade wire2, as previously described, by means of a laminated leaf spring 16 whichat one end is secured to the upper end of the stationary spindle 4 abovethe housing 6, as shown at 17, and at its free end projects betweenupstanding stop pins 13 on the housing.

The housing 6 is additionally yieldably held in its normal position by aspring-pressed detent 19 engaging a seat 20 in the sleeve 3 and mountedin connection with a screw 21 threaded through an ear 22 rigid with andprojecting from the housing in overlying relation to the sleeve 4, asshown in FIG. 2.

By reason of the above described mounting and control of the probefinger 9, from the standpoint of rotation in a horizontal plane, theenclosed probe finger can readily pass by the various arms or brackets23 which support the grade wire 2, as shown in FIG. 4.

It will be seen that when the casing 13 engages any such said casing andthe housing 6 swing as a unit about the spindle 4 as an axis. The spring16 is thus increasingly placed under tension; the detent of coursemoving out of the seat 20. When the casing 13 finally clears and movespast the arm 23, the spring 16 quickly returns the casing 13 and housing6 to their initial position, with the probe finger 9 straddling the Wireand the detent 19 reengaged in its seat 20 and holding the unit steady.

As the probe finger swings up or down with any variation in levelbetween the machine-mounted housing 6 and the grade wire 2, the shaft 7is rotated in one direction or the other. Such rotation in eitherdirection closes a circuit which actuates the machine-level controlmechanism in the same manner as shown in US. Patent No. 2,864,452. Thiscircuit closing is effected by the use of oscillator coil units 24 and24a, which are mounted in the housing 6 in spaced relation lengthwise ofshaft -7.

For controlling one such circuit with an upward movement of the outerportion of the probe finger 9, the unit 24 is employed. In this case,shaft 7 is provided with a radially projecting vane 25 positioned tosweep between a pair of oscillator coils 26. The vane and coils, whichare a part of unit 24, are arranged in connection with an electroniccircuit and a power relay, indicated at 27, in the housing 6, and fromwhich the necessary wiring (not shown) leads to the control mechanismabove mentioned.

The units 24 and 24a are at present in commercial production and areavailable on the open market, being made for use in systems requiring anon-ofi electric control der e a vice "to operate various types ofequipment. In such a unit, the oscillator coils are physically alinedand connected to be regenerative. In operation, as the vane sweepsbetween the coils, their series inductance drops until at'a sharpcritical point oscillation stops. The grid associated with the'unitloses its negative bias, causing a sudden gain in plate current, whichpowers the relay. When the vane is withdrawn from between the coils,oscillation resumes at the same sharp point, cutting off power to therelay.

For closing a control circuit upon downward movement of the outerportion of the probe finger 9, the separate oscillator coil unit 24a,identical with that above described, is employed; such separate unitincluding a vane 25a secured on shaft 7 and a pair of oscillator coils26a between which vane 25a 'is adapted to sweep. 'Ihe housing 6 isprovided with a hinged door 28 so that easy access to the various partsin the housing, for adjustment or inspection thereof, is afforded.

As will be clearly evident from FIG. 3 of the drawings,

the vanes 25 and 25a are adjustable on the shaft 7. This enables therange of action of the mechanisms controlled by vane movement to bereadily varied as conditions'may require.

' In order to yieldably maintain the probe finger 9 in a normal orinactive position, without relying on the grade wire, a permanent magnetM is mounted in rigid and depending relation to the shaft 7 andcooperates with a similar magnet M mounted in the housing 6 directlybelow the magnet M, as shown in FIG. 3. These magnets thus form-abiasing means for the purpose.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a modifiedfeeler unit for use in connection withthe steering of the machine, as shown in Patent No. 2,907,398.

This unit comprises a depending bracket-supported shank 29 on the lowerend of which a depending yoke 30 is secured. Horizontally pivoted, as at31, on and depending from the yoke 30 is a cooperating yoke 32, which issecured to'a depending rigid casing 33 of rectangular form in section.

Pivoted adjacent its upper end in the casing, as at 34, on ahorizontalcross shaft 35 disposed at right angles to the axis of theyoke pivot 31 is a depending probe finger 36 having anelongated slot 37to straddle the usual grade wire. A stabilizing weight 38 is rigidlymounted with the finger 36 above the pivot shaft 35. The casing 33 hasslots 39 in its opposite sides to match the finger slot 37.

The pivot shaft 35 of the probe finger, and which is rigid therewith,projects from one Wall 40 of the casing 33 and into a housing 41 securedto said wall. Fixed on shaft 35 within the housing 41 is a'double-endedrocker arm 42 which overlies a pair of separate micro switches 43mounted in the housing 41 in spaced relation lengthwise of the finger36, and by means of which the steering of the machine is effected uponlateral swinging of the probe finger 36 to one side or the other, as setforth in said Patent No. 2,907,398. To actuate the switches alternatelythe rocker arm 42 in provided with projecting elements 44 positioned ofcourse to engage the usual control buttons on such switches.

To limit swinging movement of the probe finger, so that no possibledamage can be done to the switches, stop members 45 are adjustablymounted in the casing 33 on opposite sides of the probe finger 36.

When, upon forward travel of the machine on which the unit is mounted,the casing 33 engages a grade-wire supporting arm, said casing, togetherwith yoke 32, swings about pivots 31 as an axis so that the casing canclear such arm. Such swinging is yieldably resisted, and the casingbrought back to a normal position, by a vertical leaf spring 46 securedat its lower end in the yoke 32 at the bottom thereof, as at 47, and. atits'upper end engaging between stop elements 48 on yoke 30 at the upperend thereof. The yokes are yieldably held in normally alined relationwith each other by a spring-pressed [5. detent 49 mounted on one side ofyoke 32 radially of the adjacent pivot 31 and engaging a seat 50 in theadjacent circular'peripheral face 51 of the yoke 30, and which face isconcentric with pivot 31, as shown in FIG. 8.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as will substantially fulfill the objects ofthe invention, as set forth' herein.

While this specification sets forththe present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetails may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A feeler unit for engagement with a grade reference member arrangedto control the actuation of the operational-movement control mechanismof a traveling machine and which mechanism includes separate oscillatorcoil units; the feeler unit comprising a probe finger arranged tocontact said member, a shaft extending lengthwise of the direction oftravel of the machine fixed with the finger adjacent its inner end, arelatively stationary housing through which said shaft projects and inwhich the shaft is journaled, the oscillator coil units being mounted inthe housing to one side of the shaft in spaced relation lengthwisethereof, and radial vanes fixed on the shaft within the housing inposition to cooperate with and alternately sweep between the coils ofthe respective units upon swinging of the probe. finger, with theresultant rotation of the shaft, in one direction or the other from apredetermined normal position.

2. A feeler unit for engagement with a grade reference member arrangedto control the actuation of the operational-movement control mechanismof a traveling machine and which mechanism includes normally idleactuating units; the feeler unit comprising a probe finger arranged tocontact said member, a shaft extending lengthwise of the direction oftravel of the machine fixed with the finger beyond the member andprojecting on one side of the finger, asupport fixed relative to theswinging movement of the finger to one side thereof in which the shaftis journaled and on which said actuating units are mounted in spacedrelation, and means included in part with said actuating units andfunctioning upon swinging of the finger and the accompanying rotation ofthe shaft in one direction or the other from a predetermined normalposition to alternately place said units in operation.

3. A unit, as in claim 1, with means independently mounting the vanes onthe shaft for rotary adjustment thereon whereby to vary the range ofoperational control of the mechanism. 1

4. In a feeler device for operation by a grade wire to control theactuation of the operational-movement control mechanism of a travelingmachine and which mechanism includes normally idle actuating units, thefeeler device including a swingable probe finger the swinging of whichin one direction or the other from a predetermined normal positionactuates said units alternately; the finger having a longitudinal slotto receive the grade Wire therethrough, a support fixed relative to andfrom which the finger is swingably supported, and a rigid casing rigidwith the support enclosing the finger and in. which said finger is freeto swing; the casing having longitudinal slots on opposite sidessymmetricalto-but materially wider than the fiinger slot. 7

5. In a feeler device for operation by a grade reference member tocontrol the actuation ofthe operationalmovernent control mechanism of atraveling machine, the device including a movable probe finger to engagesaid member and whose movement relative to the member in a direction atright angles thereto actuates said mechanism, a support fixed relativeto and'from which the finger is supported, mounting means for thesupport including a pivot element disposed at right angles to thelongitudinal plane of the finger and about which the support isswingable, spring means between the support and said mounting means toyieldably resist such swinging of the support and to return the same toa predetermined normal position after being so swung; said mountingmeans including a stationary member having a peripheral face concentricwith the axis of the pivot element, and a spring-pressed detent mountedon the support, said stationary member having a detent-receiving seat insaid face positioned to receive the detent when the support is in saidpredetermined normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

